I would love to be able to claim that last week's column, with its plea for dining and drinking ventures that don't duplicate the offerings of existing businesses, spurred some kind of immediate action.

But while I'm glad to tell you today about two new hospitality establishments opening soon on the Palafox strip, the reality is that I know I had nothing to do with it. Still, it feels good to have put that out into the universe and to receive such a swift response.

First, the former Helen Back space upstairs at 22 Palafox Place won't be empty for long. Wild Greg's Saloon will open there, hopefully by mid to late summer, according to owner Greg Urban.

Urban, a Minneapolis transplant who has been wintering in Pensacola for several years, said he had been looking for the perfect location for a country music-themed nightclub for some time.

In fact, he had almost given up on Palafox and had started looking for property in the Nine Mile Road area when word came that the prime Palafox space became available.

"It's been my goal to be on Palafox," Urban said. "I love the energy, with things like Gallery Night and the Pelican Drop, it's unbelievable. Minneapolis doesn't do a quarter of what Pensacola does to promote downtown business."

Urban said Wild Greg's would reflect the kind of place where he wants to hang out, drawing inspiration from Tampa's Dallas Bull and Fort Walton Beach's The Block.

"Today's country is great in a nightclub atmosphere," he said. "I'm personally a fan, and no place in Pensacola has that. I'm happy to bring it here."

Urban said Wild Greg's would include a full liquor bar and mostly DJ music, though he would consider occasional live music, as well. And the saloon will feature something that no country bar should be without — a mechanical bull.

And he stressed that bringing something new was key to what he wanted to do.

"I've been hearing that new bars downtown are stealing from each other, but I think we're going to bring in a new crowd to downtown," he said. "I think we'll bring business for others and be good for downtown."

Urban said an exact opening date would be announced after he assessed remodeling ideas for the space.

Meanwhile, the annex to the Trader Jon's building at 509 S. Palafox St. is also about to take on new life.

According to restaurant real estate specialist Michael Carro, who brokered the deal, the building will soon house Brick & Spoon Restaurant, a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot with a Cajun/Creole flair.

Brick and Spoon is a Gulf Coast chain, with the new Pensacola location being one of three opening this year, doubling the chain's number of stores. Franchisee Eric Beech also owns the Brick & Spoon in Orange Beach, Ala.

Check out www.brickandspoonrestaurant.com for more information including a complete menu.

Welcome to the neighborhood, folks. We look forward to seeing what you bring to our diverse dining and drinking landscape.

NOTE: An earlier version of this story indicated that Brick & Spoon would take the original Trader Jon's Building. That building houses 5Eleven Palafox Event Hosting, which will continue to operate there.